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Simi valley, ca

wondered if anyone ever used or(useing)one to prevent criders,mainly for me ground squrils,from getting in patch!?----also seen a product called ro-pel supposebly bad tasting, has anyone ever used ro-pel or similar??

5/24/2005 12:08:12 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Don't know about Ro-pel, but I use an electric fence. Once it goes up, critter problems vanish. For ground squirrels, you will need a couple of wires very close to the ground to prevent them from running under it. Be advised though, electric fences can be very painful to children, and deadly to very small animals such as birds, kittens, and baby rabbits ;)

And for Bill (Stunner), I got another Robin and also a Yellow Shafted Northern Flicker the other day. That second one I had to look up on the internet. A shame too, very beautiful bird.

5/24/2005 12:50:03 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

You are lucky you just have ground squirrels to contend with. I have raccoon, muskrat, beaver, ground hogs, rabbits and deer. I have to use a 6' high, 6 wire fence, and occassionally something will brave the shock and get in. My charger is located in the garage and makes a good, loud pop for every pulse. If something happens to short it out, the pop is quiet, and I can tell quickly that there is a problem to fix. It gives off a hot enough shock to teach the critters, but not enough to do serious harm to a person. My son andI both have been bitten by it in the past and lived to tell about it. We are in the country, and I wouldn't use something like this in town.

Any of the products that deter pests by odor or taste work ok until you get a good rain, then you have to re-apply. A good, hot, 110 volt charger works as long as you keep the grass and weeds off the wires and fix any damage promptly.

5/24/2005 4:27:33 PM

Nikiski Alaska

i still think that if you feed them and shoot them then plant them under your pumpkins

5/24/2005 7:58:52 PM

[email protected]

Deer carcass make good fert!

5/24/2005 8:44:49 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I love my electric fence! I upgraded my charger to an 11,000 volts output this year to let the dogs know I was serious, so far it seems to be working :0) It'll work for the short critters but like Monty said, gotta get low to the ground with those wires....an lil' animals such as rabbits tend to get killed easily. I've found however, word seems to get around quickly in the woods....anyone who says critters don't communicate is crazy.
Some chargers can handle weeds and brush, mine does easily, shocks right through it, others don't. You get what you pay for. If you do an electric fence, do it right. It won't work worth a hoot if you have a short, or your ground is improper, or a charged wire is touching a grounded, etc.
Mine is essential for me, I'll always have one from now on. Of course, if you have 15+ dogs, what else ya' gonna do?

5/24/2005 10:22:33 PM

Central PA

This past winter I started using a solar powered electric fence (6 jolts) for my garlic field (1/4 arce). Early in the winter we saw deer tracks go right up to the wire and then walk away. Deer could have jumped the wired but we never saw a track in the field. Oddly enough we didn't see anything else expect those ground hogs. As Southern says word must have gotten out because the fox, raccoon, dogs and rabbits stayed clear. But I do not believe the ground hogs understand because they still passed under it.

Just for fun I turned the fence off and they all still stayed clear. Note, I am using the 1/2inch white mesh/wire combo wire. Makes it easier for my kids to see. And the jolts are low enough that it really surprises the kids instead of really hurting them.

5/24/2005 11:28:00 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Go southern that is the best way give em heaps hit im hard enough the shock will throw them back into the woods

5/25/2005 4:31:27 AM

Eveleth MN

The deer are finally giving up after I started chaseing them out of the yard with my Paintball marker on Full auto. :) I'm putting up an E-fencer before the hoophouses get pulled this year also.

5/25/2005 1:05:05 PM

Oz

My dog peed on a tree that had a elec wire nailed to it.
The cry of pain was baaaaaad.

Kyle,,do you use just a wire?,,bobwire,,,welded wire,,?

lol,,,a internet robotic watchdog in the patch,,,
x-10s,wireless internet,rc trucks, and paintball assault!!
hmmmm,,,

5/26/2005 12:39:22 AM